" One of the key themes that emerged was that men often recognised they may have the symptoms of a serious disease. "

" But they delayed going to a GP because of fear of diagnosis and the fact it was not "macho" to seek help, said the British Journal of Health Psychology. "

" Prostate cancer is the most common male cancer, with more than 30,000 new cases a year - a third of whom die. "

" It affects the prostate gland, which is found near the bladder in men, and produces one component of semen. "

"As this study also indicates, we need to understand a lot more about men's perceptions of and their actual experience of entering and using the healthcare system"

" Symptoms include pain when urinating or ejaculating, blood in the semen or urine and pain in the lower back, hips or thighs. "

" Pressure to live up to the stereotype that real men ignored health problems was commonly mentioned. "

" The team also said the possibility of having cancer invoked considerable anxiety among participants and this caused them to avoid health information or minimise the seriousness of symptoms. "

" The respondents said that they felt male GPs often had negative attitudes towards men and that they were also concerned by the prospect of rectal examinations,
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